Visible and adjustable hanging-bracket group for anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall, with perfected fixing means to the shoulder of the wall cupboard

ABSTRACT

A visible and adjustable hanging-bracket group anchoring a cupboard to a wall includes a bearing structure carrying a protruding arm with a hook that hooks onto a support fixed to the wall, a first and a second regulation mechanism of depth and inclination of the protruding arm, a flange extending from the bearing structure for fixing the hanging bracket to a shoulder of the wall cupboard and having one or more holes adapted to receive a respective fastener, the flange further having elements resistant to shear stress protruding toward the shoulder and synergistic with the fasteners to stably position the hanging bracket on the shoulder. Each element resistant to shear stress is arranged in a different position with respect to the one or more holes receiving the respective fastener and is shaped as a bushing or cylindrical plug having a circular section and extending from the flange.

The present invention relates to a visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group for anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall, withperfected fixing means to the shoulder of the same wall cupboard.

In particular, the hanging bracket, object of the invention, is of the“visible” type i.e. destined to be assembled inside a wall cupboard.

Wall cupboards in which a hook is formed at the free end of an armextending outwardly from a body or bearing structure made of plasticmaterial, or metal, are known to skilled persons in the field.

This box-shaped contains a mechanism for regulating the positions indepth and inclination (height) of said arm provided with a hook which isdestined for being hooked to a wall support, shaped metal section,dowel, or the like.

The hanging bracket thus structured is fixed to the shoulder of the wallcupboard by fixing means such as self-tapping screws, or plastic plugsyieldable with pressure, having a sawtooth profile, in correspondencewith the upper edges of the cupboard, defined by the shoulder, thelining and the top.

The screws are pass-through, i.e. they pass through the box-shaped body,and are screwed directly into the shoulder of the cupboard, whereas theplugs extend integrally laterally from the plastic box-shaped body andare pressure-inserted in a corresponding seat of the shoulder.

A hanging bracket of the above type is described and illustrated, forexample, in patents EP 0033179 B1 and EP 0632979 A1.

There are other types of hanging brackets that basically differ in thestructure carrying the protruding arm provided with a hook, in thesupports with which they are fixed to the wall cupboards, and also themeans whereby the positions in depth and height (inclination) of therear hook can be adjusted.

These hanging brackets, as disclosed in patent EP 1228720 B1, forexample, generally currently consist of a plate-element provided with aside flange which, in the assembly phase, is generally fixed by means ofscrews or expansion dowels inside holes provided on the shoulder of thewall cupboard.

As previously indicated and described in EP 0632979 A1 and EP 1228720B1, the above known hanging brackets comprise a rear hook, protrudingfrom a possible rear wall or lining of said wall cupboard, for hookingthe wall cupboard to a support fixed on the wall, said hook beingcontrolled by screw-and-nut mechanisms capable of allowing its positionto be regulated, and consequently the position of the wall cupboard withrespect to said support fixed to the wall.

Although these known hanging brackets are at present functional andcorrespond to the standards existing in the field of security ofsuspended furniture, in view of the current tendency to reduce thethicknesses of the panels forming the wall cupboards and increasingdiffusion of this type of furniture, which is often also excessivelyloaded, it may unfortunately happen that this furniture/hanging bracketcoupling is not always effective, long-lasting and above all safe.

As the very stability of the wall cupboard is based on this constraint,unfortunately there may often be breakages of the hanging bracket itselfand/or detachments of the hanging bracket from the wall cupboard,causing the wall cupboard to fall, due to the shear forces acting in thehanging bracket/cupboard coupling that are generated when the cupboardis loaded.

WO 2014/072026 relates to a visible and adjustable hanging-bracket groupfor anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall, according to the preamble ofclaim 1.

WO 2010/012503 and EP 2596720A1 relate to a visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group for anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall, providedwith a pair of flanges positioned on opposite sides with respect to thetwo adjustments of the hanging-bracket group.

A general objective of the present invention is to solve the drawbacksof the known art indicated above in an extremely simple, economical andparticularly functional manner.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a visible andadjustable hanging-bracket group for anchoring a wall cupboard to awall, which guarantees an easy and firm assembly on any type of wallcupboard.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a visible andadjustable hanging-bracket group for anchoring a wall cupboard to awall, which is capable of resisting high shear forces that can begenerated in the cupboard/hanging-bracket coupling once the samecupboard has been loaded.

In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, avisible and adjustable hanging-bracket group for anchoring a wallcupboard to a wall has been conceived, having the characteristicsspecified in the main claim and enclosed sub-claims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the present inventionand its advantages with respect to the known art will appear moreevident from the following description, referring to the encloseddrawings, which show an embodiment example of the same invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hanging-bracket group in the assemblyphase on the relative wall cupboard, according to the known art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hanging-bracket group of FIG. 1 inthe fixing phase on the relative wall cupboard by means of pass-throughscrews;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively two views, a side view and a partialvertical sectional view according to the line III-III, of a hangingbracket fixed to the shoulder of the cupboard by means of a pair ofpass-through screws, according to the known art;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hanging-bracket group of FIG. 3 takenaccording to the arrow A;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are two perspective views of the hanging bracket accordingto the known art;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hanging-bracket group according to thepresent invention in the assembly phase on the relative wall cupboard;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hanging-bracket group of FIG. 8 inthe fixing phase on the relative wall cupboard, according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively two views, a side view and a partialvertical sectional view according to the line XI-XI, with an enlargeddetail in FIG. 11a , of a hanging bracket, according to the presentinvention, assembled on the shoulder of the cupboard;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the hanging-bracket group of FIG. 10 takenaccording to the arrow A;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are two perspective views of the hanging bracket,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are three perspective views of the hanging bracket,according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a visible and adjustable hanging-bracketgroup for anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall in question, is indicatedas a whole with 10.

Said hanging-bracket group 10 comprises a structure 16 carrying aprotruding arm 14 equipped with a hook 15 suitable for being hooked to asupport 50 fixed to said wall, a first and a second regulation mechanism17, 17′ of the position in depth and inclination, respectively, of saidprotruding arm 14, and at least one flange 18 which extends from saidbearing structure 16 for fixing said hanging bracket 10 to a shoulder 12of said wall cupboard 11, at least one hole for the passage of fixingmeans 19 of said hanging bracket 10 to said shoulder 12 being providedin said at least one flange 18.

As illustrated in the figures, said flange 18 is a side flange.

Said at least one flange 18 extends below and above said bearingstructure 16.

As illustrated, said structure 16 carrying a protruding arm 14 providedwith a hook 15 can consist of a box-shaped body (FIGS. 15-17) or a plate(FIGS. 13 and 14).

The assembly phase with the couplings of the hanging bracket 10, forexample, by means of screws 19 that can be screwed into the side wall orshoulder 12 of the cupboard 11, is shown in FIGS. 1,2 (known art) and8,9 (invention), whereas in FIGS. 3 (known art) and 10 (invention), thesame hanging brackets 10 can be seen, after assembly, with the hook 15protruding to the rear, said hook 15 can be provided protruding from ahole formed on a possible rear wall or lining, not illustrated, of thesame wall cupboard 11.

The hanging brackets of the type described above are then fixed to theshoulder 12 of the wall cupboard (according to the known art) byinserting the fixing means 19 inside respective seats in the shoulder12, i.e. using, for example, a pair of self-tapping screws, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, or a pair of yieldable sawtooth-shaped plugs (not shown)pressure-inserted in a respective seat of the shoulder 12 of thecupboard 11.

Said fixing means 19 alone, however, are not capable of ensuring thestable and safe fixing of the hanging-bracket group 10 to the shoulder12 of the cupboard 11, with time: a system of vertical forces is in factcreated, which the wall cupboard 11, as schematized for example in FIG.4, discharges on the hanging bracket 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in fact, when the wall cupboard 11 is hung tothe wall, the weight of the same generates a force on the hangingbracket that tends to rotate the hanging bracket 10: the screw 19 ^(I)acts as a fulcrum, whereas the second screw 19 ^(II) is subjected toconsiderable stress and the material of which the shoulder 12 isproduced is subjected to a greater force than that which can besustained, with the consequent deformation of the insertion seats of thescrews 19 and yielding of the anchoring point (FIG. 4). The yieldingcauses the rotation of the hanging bracket 10 around the screw 19 ^(I)with the consequent risk of disengaging the wall cupboard 11 from thesupporting element 50 fixed to the wall.

According to the invention, said at least one flange 18 also comprisesat least one element 20 resistant to shear stress, which is generatedwhen the hanging bracket 10 is assembled and when the wall cupboard 11is loaded, protruding from said at least one flange 18 towards saidshoulder 12 of said wall cupboard 11, said at least one element 20resistant to shear stress collaborating with one or more fixing means19, for a stable positioning of said hanging bracket 10 on said shoulder12 of said wall cupboard 11.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said hangingbracket 10 comprises at least two elements 20 resistant to shear stressthat collaborate with at least two fixing means 19.

The elements 20 resistant to shear stress, in addition to the fixingmeans 19, keep the hanging bracket firmly anchored to the shoulder 12 ofthe cupboard, in the correct position selected in the assembly phase(FIG. 8), with the consequent stable and safe fixing of the wallcupboard to the wall, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

According to the invention, in fact, wherein the hanging bracket 10 isfixed to the shoulder of the cupboard with a combination of fixing means19 and elements 20 resistant to shear stress, there is a differentsystem of forces that eliminates the rotation of the hanging bracket 10,as described above, thanks to the resistance offered by the elements 20protruding from the flange 18, for example bushings, and inserted in theshoulder 12 of the cupboard. FIG. 11a illustrates the resistance toshear stress offered by the bushings 20: said bushings 20, bycollaborating with the fixing means 19, for example screws, guarantee astable positioning of the hanging bracket 10 on the shoulder 12 of thewall cupboard 11, in any case preventing misalignment of the hangingbracket 10 with respect to the cupboard 11.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, said one or morefixing means 19 are coupled with said at least one flange 18, throughthe respective one or more holes 44, in different positions with respectto said at least one element 20 resistant to shear stress.

According to the present invention, the alternation of an elementresistant to shear stress 20 with a hole for the passage of therespective fixing means 19, is provided along said at least one flange18.

At least one pair, comprising an element 20 resistant to shear stressand a hole 44 for the passage of the respective fixing means 19, isprovided in correspondence with each of the ends of said at least oneflange 18 (FIG. 10).

In an embodiment, said at least one element 20 resistant to shear stressand said at least one fixing means 19 are aligned with each other, theaxes X of said at least one fixing means 19 and said at least oneelement resistant to shear stress 20, being parallel to each other andperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 18 ^(I) of said at least oneflange 18 (FIGS. 11 and 13).

It can be provided that said at least one element resistant to shearstress 20 and/or said at least one fixing means 19 are not aligned witheach other but are positioned offset with respect to each other, or withrespect to the others, on said at least one flange 18.

It can be provided, for example, that the elements resistant to shearstress 20 are positioned offset with respect to the fixing means 19, orthat both the elements resistant to shear stress 20 and the fixing means19 are not aligned with respect to each other.

The elements resistant to shear stress 20 can be plug elements or, asillustrated in the figures, bushings, protruding from said at least oneflange 18 whose plugs or bushings are coupled, not necessarily forcibly,with respective holes 41 formed in the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard11.

The elements resistant to shear stress 20 can be formed directly on theflange 18 during the production of the metallic hanging bracket 10.

In an alternative embodiment, they can be produced separately andsubsequently welded onto the flange 18.

As illustrated in an embodiment, the elements 20 are bushings orcylindrical plugs, having a circular section.

The smooth side surface of the bushing or plug ensures that the latteris not subject to tensile stress in the extraction direction.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, in relation to the typeof cupboard with which the hanging bracket 10 is to be coupled and theestimate of loads imposed, they can be hollow cylindrical plugs having anon-circular continuous section but with an arc circumference.

The fixing means 19 can comprise at least one fixing screw 19 of said atleast one flange 18 to the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard 11.

Said at least one fixing screw 19 is preferably coupled with therelative flange 18 in a different position, with respect to the at leastone element 20, through relative holes 44; alternatively or incombination therewith, the above screws 19 can be coupled with theflange 18 inside the bushing elements 20.

According to another embodiment, not illustrated, the hanging-bracketgroup 10 can comprise, as fixing means 19, at least one expansion dowelprovided with engagement teeth and activated by means of screws, which,as for the screws 19 described above, provide for fixing the flange 18to the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard 11.

Said at least one dowel can be coupled with the relative flange 18 in adifferent position with respect to the at least one element 20;alternatively or in combination therewith, the above dowels can becoupled with the flange 18 coaxially to at least one element 20.

Finally, according to an embodiment, not illustrated, the fixing means19 can comprise at least one expansion dowel activated by means ofcursors with shaped heads which, as for the previously mentioned dowels,provide for fixing the flange 18 to the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard11.

These dowels 21 can also be coupled with the flange 18 in a differentposition or coaxially to the at least one element 20.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hanging-bracket group 10comprises a pair of holes 44 for the passage of said screws 19 and apair of bushings 20 formed in one piece from said metallic flange 18,said holes 44 and said bushings 20 alternating with each other along anaxis 18 ^(I) parallel to the free edge 18 ^(II) of said at least oneflange 18.

According to a variant of the present invention, not illustrated, thehanging-bracket group 10 alternatively to or in combination with atleast one hole 44 for the passage of one or more fixing means 19,provides a plug, a dowel or the like, protruding from said at least oneflange 18 towards the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard 11 and suitablefor being inserted in corresponding holes provided on said shoulder 12for fixing said hanging bracket 10 to the shoulder 12 of the wallcupboard 11.

With reference to the regulation mechanisms 17 and 17 ^(I) respectivelyof the position in depth C and inclination B of said arm 14, protrudingfrom said bearing structure 16, and provided with a hook 15, accordingto an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, said first and secondregulation mechanisms 17 and 17 ^(I) comprise two screw-and-nutmechanisms wherein the head of a first regulation screw 30 is stablyhoused in a counter-profile 30 ^(I) formed in said bearing structure 16,said first regulation screw 30 being longitudinally associated with aninternal threaded seat of said protruding arm 14 at an end 15 ^(I)opposite to said hook 15, for the longitudinal movement of saidprotruding arm 14, a second regulation screw 31 associated with saidbearing structure 16 being provided, in a parallel and upper positionwith respect to said first regulation screw 30, said second regulationscrew 31 acting on a movable curved lunette 33 to impart a rotation tosaid protruding arm 14, for example around a riveted pin, said first andsecond regulation mechanisms 17, 17′ being associated with andaccessible to said bearing structure 16 from the front.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the supportingstructure 16 is produced in the form of a plate.

In a second embodiment of the regulation mechanisms 17 and 17 ^(I),illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, said first and second regulationmechanisms 17, 17′ of the position in depth and inclination of said arm14 protruding from said bearing structure 16 comprise two screw-and-nutmechanisms, wherein the position of the protruding arm 14 with respectto the bearing structure 16 is regulated in depth by means of a screw 34which is screwed onto a lead screw of the protruding arm 14 and isaxially constrained to said bearing structure 16, said screw beingmaneuvered by means of a head protruding from a first slit 35 providedon said bearing structure 16, whereas the inclination position of theprotruding arm 14 with respect to the bearing structure 16 is regulatedby means of a second screw 36 which is screwed onto a seat of theprotruding arm 14 and is anchored, by means of a head, to a second slit37 provided on the bearing structure 16, said first and secondregulation mechanisms 17, 17 ^(I) being associated with and accessibleto said bearing structure 16, from the front and below.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15-17, the bearing structure 16consists of a box-shaped body from which said arm 14 at least partiallyprotrudes at the rear, the head of the regulation screws 34 and 36protruding from the front and lower wall of said box-shaped body.

The kinematic regulation mechanisms of the depth and inclinationdescribed above are provided for purely illustrative and non-limitingpurposes and can differ.

From what is described above, and with reference to the figures, itappears evident how a visible and adjustable hanging-bracket group foranchoring a wall cupboard to a wall is particularly useful andadvantageous. The objective mentioned in the preamble of the descriptionhas therefore been achieved.

The visible and adjustable hanging bracket 10 for anchoring a wallcupboard to a wall according to the present invention, in fact,guarantees an easy and stable assembly on any type of wall cupboard,preventing any possible misalignment of the hanging bracket itself 10with respect to the relative cupboard also when the cupboard is loaded.

This stable positioning is achieved thanks to the presence of elements20 resistant to shear stress protruding from said at least one flange 18towards the shoulder 12 of the wall cupboard 11, wherein said elements20 resistant to shear stress collaborate with the fixing means 19 forguaranteeing a stable positioning of the hanging-bracket group 10 on theshoulder 12 of the wall cupboard 11.

The forms of the visible hanging-bracket group for anchoring a wallcupboard to a wall according to the invention, as also the materials,can naturally differ from those shown for purely illustrative andnon-limiting purposes in the drawings.

The protection scope of the invention is therefore defined by theenclosed claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A visible and adjustable hanging-bracketgroup for anchoring a wall cupboard to a wall, comprising: a bearingstructure (16) carrying a protruding arm (14) equipped with a hook (15)adapted to be hooked to a support (50) fixed to said wall; a first and asecond regulation mechanisms (17,17′) of a position in depth andinclination, respectively, of said protruding arm (14); a flange (18)extending from said bearing structure (16) for fixing saidhanging-bracket group (10) to a shoulder (12) of said wall cupboard(11); and a plurality of holes for passage of fasteners (19) of saidhanging-bracket group (10) to said shoulder (12) provided in said flange(18), wherein said flange (18) further comprises a plurality of elements(20) resistant to shear stress and protruding from said flange (18)towards said shoulder (12) of said wall cupboard (11), said plurality ofelements (20) collaborating with a said fasteners (19) for a stablepositioning of said hanging-bracket group (10) on said shoulder (12) ofsaid wall cupboard (11), each element of said plurality of elements (20)resistant to shear stress being arranged in a different position withrespect to a relative hole (44) receiving each fastener of saidfasteners (19), wherein said elements (20) resistant to shear stress arebushings or cylindrical plugs, having a circular section, that extendfrom said flange (18).
 2. The visible and adjustable hanging-bracketgroup (10) according to claim 1, wherein each element resistant to shearstress (20) one of said holes (44) for the passage of the respectivefastener (19) along said flange (18).
 3. The visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1, wherein each element(20) resistant to shear stress of said plurality of elements and each ofthe fasteners (19) are aligned with each other, longitudinal axes ofeach fastener (19) and each element resistant to shear stress (20),being parallel to each other and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis(18 ^(I)) of said flange (18).
 4. The visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1, wherein said flange(18) extends below or above said bearing structure (16).
 5. The visibleand adjustable hanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1, whereinsaid bearing structure (16) carrying the protruding arm (14) equippedwith the hook (15) consists of a box-shaped body or a plate.
 6. Thevisible and adjustable hanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1,wherein said fasteners (19) comprise at least one fixing screw of saidflange (18) to said shoulder (12) of said wall cupboard (11).
 7. Thevisible and adjustable hanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1,wherein said fasteners (19) comprise an expansion dowel actuated by ascrew with engagement teeth for fixing said flange (18) to said shoulder(12) of said wall cupboard (11).
 8. The visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group (10) claim 1, wherein said fasteners (19) comprisean expansion dowel actuated by a cursor with a shaped head for fixingsaid flange (18) to said shoulder (12) of said wall cupboard (11). 9.The visible and adjustable hanging-bracket group (10) according to claim1, wherein said first and second regulation mechanisms (17,17′) of theposition in depth and inclination of said arm (14) protruding from saidbearing structure (16) comprise two screw-and-nut mechanisms thatinclude a first and a second regulation screws, wherein a head of thefirst regulation screw (30) is stably housed in a counter-profile (30^(I)) formed in said bearing structure (16), said first regulation screw(30) being longitudinally associated with an internal threaded seat ofsaid protruding arm (14) at an end (15 ^(I)) opposite to said hook (15)for a longitudinal movement of said protruding arm (14), and wherein thesecond regulation screw (31) is associated with said bearing structure(16) in a parallel and upper position with respect to said firstregulation screw (30), said second regulation screw (31) acting on amovable curved lunette (33) to impart a rotation to said protruding arm(14), said first and second regulation mechanisms (17,17′) beingassociated with and received in said bearing structure (16) from a frontthereof.
 10. The visible and adjustable hanging-bracket group (10)according to claim 1, wherein said first and second regulationmechanisms (17,17′) of the position in depth and inclination of said arm(14) protruding from said bearing structure (16) comprise twoscrew-and-nut mechanisms, wherein the position of the arm (14) withrespect to the bearing structure (16) is regulated in the depth with ascrew (34) which is screwed onto a lead screw of the protruding arm (14)and is axially constrained to said bearing structure (16), said screwbeing maneuvered by way of a head protruding from a first slit (35)provided on said bearing structure (16), and wherein an inclinationposition of the protruding arm (14) with respect to the bearingstructure (16) is regulated with a second screw (36), which is screwedonto a seat of the protruding arm (14) and is anchored, by way of asecond head, to a second slit (37) provided on the bearing structure(16), said first and second regulation mechanisms (17,17′) beingassociated with and received in said bearing structure (16), from afront and a lower side thereof.
 11. The visible and adjustablehanging-bracket group (10) according to claim 1, wherein said pluralityof holes is a pair of holes (44) for the passage of said fasteners (19)and said plurality of elements is a pair of bushings (20) integrallyformed from said flange (18), said pair of holes (44) and said pair ofbushings (20) alternating with each other along an axis (18 ^(I))parallel to a free edge (18 ^(II)) of said flange (18).